Horror film enthusiast inspiring young talent

An American script writer and horror film enthusiast hopes to continue her success in film and television in Bahrain and connect with local talent, as she showcases her latest creation on an international stage.

Former US Navy nuclear engineer Jackie Perez turned her passion into a profession and has spent the last five years working in film and television in Los Angeles, US, before moving to Bahrain in May with her husband.

The 32-year-old’s talent for the genre has garnered significant attention in recent years, gaining her a series of awards including the ‘Best Unproduced Screenplay’ at Screamfest 2017 for her feature horror screenplay U-666, and her Grace Hopper script Amazing Grace is currently a finalist in the ‘ScreenCraft Public Domain’ screenplay competition and is in consideration for a Sundance Fellowship.

One of her most recent works Beachworld, which was edited in Bahrain, had its world premiere at a film festival in Atlanta, US on August 31 and will also have an international premiere in the Netherlands on September 21, before returning to the US in October for numerous other film festivals.

“It is based on a short story by the master of horror Stephen King,” explained Ms Perez.

“He has a programme where he lets emerging filmmakers option his stories for $1 to adapt into a film, and these films are called Dollar Babies.

“I chose Beachworld for its unique setting and themes of isolation.

“I would love to do a screening this fall with some other local short films (in Bahrain) and make a night out of it – we are looking for a venue.”

Ms Perez has a number of projects in the pipeline including her first book – a new biography about Sally Ride, the first female American astronaut to go to space and her first Bahrain feature film project.

“I’m ramping up to shoot my first feature film right here in Bahrain and I’m really looking forward to local collaboration,” she told the GDN.

“I can’t give much information at this time but I will say, it’s going to be a horror film and use lots of practical effects.”

Speaking of her debut book, Ms Perez added, “I think it’s very important for young women and men to have women in STEM they can look up to.

“Representation is extremely important which is why when I’m not writing horror, I tend to work on projects that bring awareness to important women in STEM so that someone, somewhere might get excited about a new subject and maybe find inspiration for their own passions.”

The book is set to be published in the fall of 2021.

Further details of both projects are being kept firmly under wraps for now – so watch this space.

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